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Rahaf al-Qunun: Saudi teen refugee arrives in Canada | Rahaf al-Qunun: Saudi teen refugee arrives in Canada |
(about 5 hours later) | |
A Saudi teenager who fled her family alleging abuse and got stranded at a Bangkok airport has arrived in Canada after being granted asylum there. | |
Rahaf Mohammed al-Qunun, 18, had been trying to reach Australia via Bangkok but was initially told to return to Kuwait, where her family were waiting. | Rahaf Mohammed al-Qunun, 18, had been trying to reach Australia via Bangkok but was initially told to return to Kuwait, where her family were waiting. |
She refused to fly back and barricaded herself into her airport hotel room, attracting international attention. | She refused to fly back and barricaded herself into her airport hotel room, attracting international attention. |
She also said she had renounced Islam, punishable by death in Saudi Arabia. | |
Canada's Foreign Affairs Minister Chrystia Freeland introduced the teenager as "a very brave new Canadian" but said that Ms al-Qunun was tired from her ordeal and long journey and would not be making any public statement on Saturday. | Canada's Foreign Affairs Minister Chrystia Freeland introduced the teenager as "a very brave new Canadian" but said that Ms al-Qunun was tired from her ordeal and long journey and would not be making any public statement on Saturday. |
"She is a very brave young woman who has been through a lot... and she is now going to go to her new home," the minister added. | "She is a very brave young woman who has been through a lot... and she is now going to go to her new home," the minister added. |
Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau earlier told reporters that his country had granted a request from the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees to grant asylum. | Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau earlier told reporters that his country had granted a request from the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees to grant asylum. |
"Canada has been unequivocal that we will always stand up for human rights and women's rights around the world," he said. | "Canada has been unequivocal that we will always stand up for human rights and women's rights around the world," he said. |
How did she reach Canada? | How did she reach Canada? |
She arrived in Pearson International Airport on a Korean Air flight from Seoul on Saturday. | She arrived in Pearson International Airport on a Korean Air flight from Seoul on Saturday. |
She had tweeted photos that appeared to show her aboard the jet just before take-off, with the words, "I did it!" | She had tweeted photos that appeared to show her aboard the jet just before take-off, with the words, "I did it!" |
Why did she flee? | Why did she flee? |
Ms Qunun told the BBC earlier that she was afraid her family would kill her. | Ms Qunun told the BBC earlier that she was afraid her family would kill her. |
"I can't study and work in my country, so I want to be free and study and work as I want," she said. | "I can't study and work in my country, so I want to be free and study and work as I want," she said. |
Separately, she told AFP news agency she had suffered physical and psychological abuse from her family, including being locked in her room for six months for cutting her hair. | Separately, she told AFP news agency she had suffered physical and psychological abuse from her family, including being locked in her room for six months for cutting her hair. |
A spokesperson for her family told the BBC that they did not wish to comment and all they cared about was the young woman's safety. | A spokesperson for her family told the BBC that they did not wish to comment and all they cared about was the young woman's safety. |
The UN's refugee agency (UNHCR) said it considered her to be a legitimate refugee and welcomed Canada's decision to grant her asylum. | The UN's refugee agency (UNHCR) said it considered her to be a legitimate refugee and welcomed Canada's decision to grant her asylum. |
"International refugee law and overriding values of humanity have prevailed," said the UN High Commissioner for Refugees, Filippo Grandi. | "International refugee law and overriding values of humanity have prevailed," said the UN High Commissioner for Refugees, Filippo Grandi. |
Canada has previously angered Saudi Arabia after calling for the release of detained women's rights activists in the country - prompting Riyadh to expel Canada's ambassador and freeze all new trade. | Canada has previously angered Saudi Arabia after calling for the release of detained women's rights activists in the country - prompting Riyadh to expel Canada's ambassador and freeze all new trade. |
How did she end up in Bangkok? | How did she end up in Bangkok? |
She had been on a trip to Kuwait with her family when she fled on a flight to the Thai capital, saying she intended to take a connecting flight to Australia and had an Australian visa. | She had been on a trip to Kuwait with her family when she fled on a flight to the Thai capital, saying she intended to take a connecting flight to Australia and had an Australian visa. |
But she says her passport was seized by a Saudi diplomat when he met her coming off the flight in Bangkok, leaving her stranded. | But she says her passport was seized by a Saudi diplomat when he met her coming off the flight in Bangkok, leaving her stranded. |
A Saudi envoy in Bangkok denied any official Saudi involvement in Ms Qunun's detention, and her passport was later returned. | A Saudi envoy in Bangkok denied any official Saudi involvement in Ms Qunun's detention, and her passport was later returned. |
Thai officials initially described her case as a "family problem" and said she would be repatriated back to Kuwait the next day. | Thai officials initially described her case as a "family problem" and said she would be repatriated back to Kuwait the next day. |
However, Ms Qunun sent a series of tweets pleading for help from her airport hotel room, and her case was picked up by Human Rights Watch and journalists. | However, Ms Qunun sent a series of tweets pleading for help from her airport hotel room, and her case was picked up by Human Rights Watch and journalists. |
Thailand allowed her to stay and the UN assessed her claim for asylum. | Thailand allowed her to stay and the UN assessed her claim for asylum. |